Geocharidius celaquensis, Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014

Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014, The integripennis species group of Geocharidius Jeannel, 1963 (Carabidae, Bembidiini, Anillina) from Nuclear Central America: a taxonomic review with notes about biogeography and speciation, ZooKeys 443, pp. 61-118 : 79-81

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

Geocharidius celaquensis sp. n. Figs 18A, 19 E–G, 20B, 21B, 22, 23

Type material.

HOLOTYPE, a male, in CMNC, point-mounted, dissected, labeled: \ HONDURAS: Lempira Dept., P.N. Celaque, nr. Gracias, Campamiento Naranjo, 2500m, 14°32.7'N, 88°39.7'W, 12-13.V.2002, cloud forest litter R. Anderson, 2002-020C \ CMNC \ HOLOTYPE Geocharidius celaquensis Sokolov and Kavanaugh 2014 [red label] \. PARATYPES: A total of 2 females (both were dissected), deposited in CAS and KUNHM; labeled same as holotype, except label of the holder: SEMC0 … KUNHM-ENT \.

Type locality.

Honduras, Lempira Department, Celaque National Park.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective in the masculine form based on the name of Celaque National Park, from which the new species is described.

Recognition.

Adults of this new species are distinguished from those of other members of the integripennis species group by their small size, fully microsculptured dorsal body surface and pronotum with wide basal margin. Males and females of Geocharidius celaquensis are distinguished from those of the other members of the integripennis species group by the structure of the median lobe and the shape of spermatheca, respectively.

Description.

Size. Small for genus (SBL range 1.15-1.20 mm, mean 1.18 ± 0.023mm, n=3).

Habitus. Body form (Fig. 18A) moderately convex, ovoid, general proportions (WE/SBL 0.40 ± 0.005), proportions of head (WH/WPm 0.73 ± 0.016) and pronotum (WPm/WE 0.78 ± 0.015) moderately wide.

Color. Body rufotestaceous, appendages testaceous.

Microsculpture. Mesh pattern of irregularly isodiametric sculpticells present over all dorsal surfaces of head, pronotum and elytra. Proepisternum also with evident microsculpture.

Prothorax. Pronotum markedly transverse (WPm/LP 1.32 ± 0.025), with lateral margins markedly constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.35 ± 0.002). Posterior angles obtuse (110-120°). Width between posterior angles slightly greater than between anterior angles (WPa/WPp 1.04 ± 0.004).

Elytra. Moderately convex, slightly depressed along suture, moderately wide (WE/LE 0.68 ± 0.015), without traces of striae. Humeri rounded, in outline forming right angle with longitudinal axis of body. Lateral margins convex, evenly divergent at basal third, evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe (Fig. 19E) with shaft subparallel, apex small and narrowly rounded. Ventral margin almost straight. Dorsal sclerites of internal sac in form of long, waved ribbon, tapered apically and slightly dilated and narrowly rounded basally. Right paramere with short apical constriction (Fig. 19G). Left paramere with long and narrow apical constriction (Fig. 19F). Ring sclerite with handle triangular, widely rounded at apex (Fig. 20B).

Female internal genitalia. Spermatheca sclerotized, fusiform, slightly dilated apically, straight, with short cornu and long nodulus (Fig. 21B). Length of spermathecal gland less than length of spermatheca. Spermathecal duct not coiled.

Geographical distribution.

This species is known only from Celaque National Park, part of the Cerro las Minas range of Honduras (Fig. 22, yellow flower).

Way of life.

Specimens were extracted from cloud forest litter at an elevation of 2500 m.

Relationships.

The shape of dorsal sclerites of the internal sac (Fig. 19E) in males and the point of the attachment of the spermathecal gland (Fig. 21B) in females suggest that this species is closely related to Geocharidius lencanus (Figs 19H and 21C), described below, and perhaps also, but more remotely, to the Guatemalan Geocharidius longinoi (Figs 13R and 17F), described above.